Tracy shakes up lineup for Mets' nightcap; tulo in cleanup

NEW YORK — His team struggling to score runs, let alone win, manager Jim Tracy has shaken up the lineup for the nightcap against the Mets. Dexter Fowler, stuck in a 3-for-13 slump and the victim of three Ks in the opener, is on the bench. As is Ian Stewart, who is 0-for-11 in this series. And Troy Tulowitzki is hitting cleanup for the first time in his big league career. He leads the team with 11 RBIs since the all-star break

Seth Smith leads off for the 11th time in this season, starting in left field. Ryan Spilborghs takes over in center and Garrett Atkins starts his second straight game at third base.

“Someone is going to pay dearly when we come out of this. And we will,” said Tracy, whose club hasn’t scored in 22 innings and suffered back-to-back shutouts.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.